Twelve people killed after truck ploughs into a Christmas market in Berlin

THE owner of the truck that was driven into a Berlin Christmas market in a presumed terror attack, killing 12 people, says the vehicle must have been hijacked.

Ellen Whinnett, Europe Correspondent

News Corp Australia NetworkDecember 20, 20164:54pm

Police and emergency workers stand next to a crashed truck at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square. Picture: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters/Picture MediaSource:Picture Media

A SUSPECT has been detained by German police after a truck was deliberately driven into a packed Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring at least 48 more.

In what is now being described by police as a “presumed terrorist attack”, a large lorry was driven into a crowd gathered at the annual Christmas market near the Zoologische Garten train station in the heart of Berlin.

Screams rang out as people gathered in the market to drink mulled wine and shop for Christmas trinkets tried to flee the truck as it ploughed through the wooden stalls.

While Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident, those responsible had not been publicly identified by police. The attack happened at 8.15pm local time (6.15am AEDT).

The driver of the Polish-registered truck fled the scene but was later arrested by police.

German daily newspaper Die Welt and security sources cited by DPA news agency said that the man behind the wheel was an asylum seeker from Afghanistan or Pakistan who arrived in Germany in February.

The daily Tagesspiegel said the man was known to police but for minor crimes, not links to terrorism.

A Polish national who was a passenger in the truck died as paramedics treated him, Berlin police spokesman Winfried Wenzel said.

The truck involved in the horrific incident. Picture: ReutersSource:Supplied

The truck was registered in Poland, and police said it was believed to be stolen from a building site there. They didn’t give a specific location.

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle, driven by his cousin, may have been hijacked.

Ariel Zurawski said he last spoke with the driver around noon, and the driver told him he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload Tuesday morning.

“They must have done something to my driver,” he told TVN24.

“We haven’t heard from him since this afternoon. We don’t know what happened to him. He’s my cousin, I’ve known him since I was a kid. I can vouch for him.”

A Berlin Police spokesman confirmed they had a suspect in custody.

“We’ve had a description of the driver, who was on the run at first. Because of this description, one suspect could be arrested,” he said.

“We are now investigating whether the arrested person is actually the driver of the truck. The suspect was arrested nearby, a few hundred metres away from the scene of the attack.”

The precinct in Berlin where the incident took place was to the west of the city’s famous Brandenburg Gate.Source:Supplied

Ambulances and heavily armed police rushed to the area after the vehicle mounted the pavement of the market in a square popular with tourists, in horrific scenes reminiscent of July’s deadly truck attack in the French Riviera city of Nice.

German federal president, Joachim Gauck, has issued a statement saying: “In my thoughts I am with the victims, with their families and with all those who fear for the safety of their friends and relatives. I thank the emergency services and the security forces for their hard work.”

Firefighters stand beside a truck which ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin. Picture: APSource:AP

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told public television: “I don’t want to use the word ‘attack’ yet, although there are many things pointing to one.”

The horrific incident comes less than a week before Christmas.

Police asked crowds to stay away from the area as they closed down the streets and searched vehicles.

Hours earlier, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was murdered in front of the media and other guests at a photographic exhibition in the Turkish capital Ankara, by an off-duty Turkish policeman yelling about the Syrian city of Aleppo.

photo galleryBerlin Christmas market attack in pictures

Police stand near a black lorry that ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. At least nine people have died as police investigate the attack and whether it is linked to a terrorist plot. Picture: Getty1 of 17

Firefighters look at a toppled Christmas tree after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: AP2 of 17

A general view shows the site where a truck speeded into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016 killing nine persons and injuring at least 50 people. Picture: AFP3 of 17

Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher in the area after a lorry truck ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty4 of 17

A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Several people have died while dozens have been injured as police investigate the attack at a market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on the Kurfuerstendamm and whether it is linked to a terrorist plot. Picture: Reuters5 of 17

Police officers stand beside a truck which ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: AP6 of 17

Glass is shattered on the windshield as rescue workers walk near the damaged lorry truck after it was ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty7 of 17

Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher in the area after a lorry truck ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty8 of 17

A policeman inspects the truck that crashed into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016. Picture: AFP9 of 17

An injured man is pushed to an ambulance at the site of an accident with a truck at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: Reuters10 of 17

Firefighters inspect the site after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: AP11 of 17

A firefighter attends an injured person in an ambulance after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany. Picture: AP12 of 17

Forensic experts of the police investigate the crime scene after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: AP13 of 17

Berlin’s mayor Michael Mueller walks at the site where a truck speeded into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016. Picture: AFP14 of 17

A policeman with a submachine gun stands at the area after a lorry truck ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty15 of 17

Policemen get of the truck that speeded into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016 killing at least one person and injuring at least 50 people. Picture: AFP16 of 17

People stand at the area after a lorry truck ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty17 of 17

Police stand near a black lorry that ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. At least nine people have died as police investigate the attack and whether it is linked to a terrorist plot. Picture: Getty

Firefighters look at a toppled Christmas tree after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: AP

A general view shows the site where a truck speeded into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016 killing nine persons and injuring at least 50 people. Picture: AFP

Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher in the area after a lorry truck ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty

A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Several people have died while dozens have been injured as police investigate the attack at a market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on the Kurfuerstendamm and whether it is linked to a terrorist plot. Picture: Reuters

Police officers stand beside a truck which ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: AP

Glass is shattered on the windshield as rescue workers walk near the damaged lorry truck after it was ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty

Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher in the area after a lorry truck ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty

A policeman inspects the truck that crashed into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016. Picture: AFP

An injured man is pushed to an ambulance at the site of an accident with a truck at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: Reuters

Firefighters inspect the site after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: AP

A firefighter attends an injured person in an ambulance after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany. Picture: AP

Forensic experts of the police investigate the crime scene after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany on December 19, 2016. Picture: AP

Berlin’s mayor Michael Mueller walks at the site where a truck speeded into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016. Picture: AFP

A policeman with a submachine gun stands at the area after a lorry truck ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty

Policemen get of the truck that speeded into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016 killing at least one person and injuring at least 50 people. Picture: AFP

People stand at the area after a lorry truck ploughed through a Christmas market on December 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Getty

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TURNBULL CONDEMNS BERLIN ATTACK

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed no Australian embassy staff in Berlin were injured in the attack overnight, but has not confirmed whether other Australian citizens were involved.

“The Australian Government utterly condemns the attack in Berlin overnight where we understand there has been nine deaths and over 50 injured,” he said.

“We also condemn the cowardly assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey.

“We have seen a series of large terrorist attacks, mass casualty terrorist attacks in recent weeks: In Nigeria, in Yemen, in Istanbul, in Somalia, in Cairo, in Jordan over the weekend another attack, and last night in Berlin.”

The Prime Minister moved to reassure Australians the government was taking action to prevent and anticipate these kinds of attacks.

A light shines through the shattered wind screen of a truck which crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin. Picture: APSource:AP

“I want to say that I can reassure Australians that we have finest police and security forces in the world, we are keenly focused on keeping Australians safe, whether they are at a market or a New Year’s Eve celebration, wherever they may be, nonetheless we cannot mitigate all risk entirely, but we are working night and day to keep Australians safe, and we are very attentive to events internationally, to ensure that we learn from them and make sure that we put measures in place to anticipate similar occurrences here,” he said.

Mr Turnbull said the Berlin attack appeared to be similar to the attack in Nice earlier this year.

“Following that attack, I tasked my counter-terrorism coordinator to review all of our measures to protect mass attendance events from attacks like this, and we have been working with the State and Territory police forces to that end.

A policeman inspects the truck that crashed into the Christmas market. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

The Prime Minister said Australia’s Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin had already spoken to his counterparts in the US and was ensuring both the US and Australia were prepared to anticipate attacks of this kind.

“We are also intensifying the steps that we have already set in place to ensure that we have the protective measures to respond to attacks such as that that we’ve seen in Berlin,” he said.

Mr Turnbull had also been in contact with Australia’s ambassadors in both Turkey and Berlin.

“We’ve also, of course, reached out to the Russian, and Turkish diplomatic staff here and on behalf of the Australian Government we send our condolences to the families of those who have been killed in Berlin, and the earlier attacks that I mentioned, and also our deepest sympathy to those that have been injured.”

Acting Opposition leader Penny Wong said the attack in Berlin was a “despicable event” which “sought to strike at the heart of the Christmas message of peace and goodwill to all”.

“Our deepest sympathies with those who have lost loved ones,” she said.

“We hope for the speedy and full recovery of those who have been wounded and we say to the German people we stand with you in solidarity and we express again our condolences.”

WORLD CONDEMNS ATTACK

The United States labelled the incident an apparent “terrorist attack”.

“The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens,” White House National Security spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

“Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies.

“We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident.”

US President-elect Donald Trump, whose election victory became official Tuesday, condemned the two attacks and blamed them on Islamic terrorism. Authorities in Turkey and Germany were still investigating when Trump issued back-to-back statements condemning the incidents. Trump called the brazen, daytime shooting of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey as he attended a photo exhibit “a violation of all rules of civilised order.” He added that the diplomat, Andrei Karlov, was assassinated by a “radical Islamic terrorist. ”

A spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel tweeted that: “We are mourning the dead and hope the many injured can get the help they need.’’

French president François Hollande tweeted his condolences to Germany: “I express my solidarity and compassion to Chancellor Merkel, to the German people and to the families of the victims of Berlin,” he wrote.

Security and rescue workers tend to the area after a lorry truck was ploughed through a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images

WITNESSES DESCRIBES HORROR

Australian Trisha O’Neill told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she was only metres from where the truck smashed into the crowded market.

“I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed.

“I could hear screaming and then we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there.” O’Neill said there was “blood and bodies everywhere”.

A police officer with a submachine gun stands guard after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin. Picture: APSource:AP

Jan Hollitzer, 36, told the Press Association he heard screams as the vehicle made its way through the stalls, but that the market was “really silent” as “shocked” shoppers looked on at the aftermath.

Hollitzer, deputy editor-in-chief of local news outlet Berliner Morgenpost, said he saw “more than one” person lying underneath the truck.

He was standing between 40 and 50 metres away from the Berlin City Weihnachtsmarkt at Breitschiedplatz when the incident happened.

“First, I heard a noise, then he destroyed the booths on the market and we heard some screams, and then the truck came out of the market on the left side.”

Hollitzer said he walked across the street to the market and saw destroyed stalls, broken glass, crockery and tables, and injured people lying on the ground.

Authorites inspect the scene after a truck sped into a Christmas market in Berlin. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

“I moved forward and saw the back of the truck – it was a lorry,” he said.

“There were some people under the truck and it was really scary, really terrifying.

“I moved on the street to see the front of the truck, which was destroyed.”

Hollitzer, who lives in Berlin, said it became “more noisy” as emergency services arrived at the scene and the initial shock of onlookers subsided.

Mike Fox, a tourist from Birmingham, England, told The Associated Press at the scene in Berlin that the large truck missed him by about three meters as it drove into the market, tearing through tables and wooden stands. “It was definitely deliberate,” Fox said.

Policemen stand next to a truck that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Fox said he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

Police on Twitter urged people to stay away from the area, saying they need to keep the streets clear for the rescue vehicles.

WARNING OVER PUBLIC SPACES

The attack comes less than a month after the US State Department called for caution in markets and other public places, saying extremist groups including Islamic State and al-Qaida were focusing “on the upcoming holiday season and associated events.”

Islamic State and al-Qaida have both called on followers to use trucks in particular to attack public places.

Security has been beefed up at Christmas markets throughout France following the deadly “attack” in Berlin on Monday, French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said

Police spokesman Winfried Wenzel told ZDF public television that the suspect was arrested nearby, but offered no further details.